Writing machine attachment



March 4, 1941. ow 2,233,775

WRITING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed March 5, 1959 Patented Mar. 4, 1941 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,233,775 WRITING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Raymond DowQFluslfing, N. Y.

Application March 3, 1939, Serial No. 259,505

Claims. (01. 197-187) Thisinvention relates to margin and sheet edge a modified form of bottom edge indicator in indicators for use in connection with writing mawhich the platen is locked against further line chines and has as its principal object the prospace movement when the paper leaves the gauge vision of such a device that can be applied to arm.

5 existing machines or can be built into new ma- Figure 5 is a view in elevation of a modified chines without necessitating the cutting, grooving form of margin indicator that is compact and or channeling of the platen as is commonly necesmoves with the carriage when the latter extends sary in devices of this kind heretofore proposed. to the right.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Referring to the drawing in detail, l0 indicates combination sheet edge indicator and right hand a Writing machine, which term embraces all ma- 10 margin indicator, the sheet'edge indicator operachines upon which characters are printed on tion being such that, without attention on the paper by a manually operated machine. The mapart of the operator of the writing machine, the chine includes a carriage ll mounted for reapproaching bottom edge of the sheet will be ciprocal movement on the rails i2 and carrying audibly indicated or the platen will be looked a revolvable platen 13 mounted in the sides ll 15 against further line spacing movement. The and I5 of the carriage on the shaft IS. The carright hand writing margin will be indicated autoriage I I further provides the usual paper guide I1 matically and. audibly to give the operator ample which surrounds the lower, front and rear porwarning so that the typing can be properly termitions of the platen to guide the paper l8 there- 0 nated to provide a neat even margin down the about. The cooperation of the platen and its sheet, the mechanism for doing this being adjustcompanion feed rolls 19 moves the paper vertiable so that the width of the sheet and the relacally to space lines of writing by suitable platen tive position of the margin edge will be compenline-spacing mechanism, not shown, but common sated for, the mechanism being universal. in writing machines. Suitable mechanism, not

Astlll further object of the invention is to proshown, is also a part of the machine to provide 25 vide a mechanism of the character referred to for the lateral movement of the carriage as the which is simple of construction, fool-proof in opwriting progresses, so that writing without eration, can be applied to the machine at minithought on the part of the operator could conmum cost and needs no instruction for the optinue off the right hand margin of the paper I8.

0 erator to understand the setting of the page end In order to warn the operator of the machine and right margin indicator. The mechanism may that the end of a line is approaching, I employ provide for an audible or visible signalling means a gauge finger 20 having a hammer portion II as desired and may be applied to bookkeeping, and pivoted as at 22 to a supporting device as billing or other business machines. shown in Figure 5, of adjustable character com- 5 Changes and variations may be made in the prising the ell 23, Support arm 24, and telescopic construction shown and described without departholder 25 in which the arm 2A is attached, the ing from the principles of the invention or sacriholder being moun d as at 29 to y convenient flcing its chief advantages; hence such invention p rt of t e stationary machine frame The is not to be restricted to the precise structures gauge end 28 of arm 20 is slig y Curved d es shown in the drawing, in which: in a trough or channel 30 provided in the bottom 40 Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the carof the pap guide I beneath the platen nd e riage portion of a writing machine, some parts tending from side It to side l5, through the latter being broken for clarity of illustration, showing of which the finger 20 extends. As the paper is the page end indicator and margin indicator in fed down the paper guide behind the p it the positions they occupy when both are in posilifts the finger 20, the latter being light, and in 5 tion ready for operation, cross section being curved from its top edge down,

Figure 2 'is a view similar to Figure 1 showing to cause the paper to pass thereunder. The paper the positions occupied by both indicators after opbeneath the platen conforming to the bellied drop eration or after the edge of the paper has disenof the paper guide beneath and away from the gaged said indicators, under side of the platen forms a space 3| with 5 Figure 3 is a view in front elevational section, which the channel 30 combines to form a spacing the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Figure for the end of the finger 20 so that it can drop 2, the operating parts of both indicators being f its pported position as il r e in Fi shown, and ure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2, as it rides Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing on! the right hand edge of the paper and drops 55 medium of the telescopic construction of the supporting device, and the adjustable stop A on arm 24.

In order that the bottom of the page of typing may be accurately determined in advance, I provide a yoke strip 33 which in its side arm portions 35 is pivoted as at 35 and 36 to the sides of the carriage. The yoke strip is free to swing in the space beneath the platen and is moved with and by the paper as it passes beneath the platen and is held or wedged in the position shown in Figure 1 by the paper, the bottom edge of said strip ongaging the paper so that as the bottom edge of the paper draws out from under the bottom edge of the strip, the strip is free and drops by its weight to the position shown in Figure 2, at which time the hammer 31 on an extended arm portion 38 of the'yoke strip rings the bell 39 to provide an audible signal to warn the operator that a new page should be started.

The page end indicator yoke strip 33 is automatically actuated by insertion of a sheet of' paper. Should it become necessary to raise the margin finger 20 to insert it above the paper, it can be manipulated by pulling down the hammer to raise the gauge finger.

In some cases it may be desirable to lock the platen against rotation when the paper releases the yoke strip and to this end I have provided a yoke strip (Figure 4) with a ratchet dog 40 which is arranged to engage the ratchet teeth 6| of a gear 42 attached to one end of the platen. As the paper is used in typing, the lower edge will ride from under the edge of the yoke strip and release the same, which, by its weight will drop down to the full line position in Figure 4 and cause engagement of the dog with the ratchet teeth to stop rotation of the platen.

It is evident that in both page end and line end indicators, the mechanisms can be incorporated in typewriters or bookkeeping machines or any number or letter handling machines without cutting the platen or without the addition of a multiplicity of complicated parts that require expert manipulation for operation and setting. The fixed gauge 20 as shown in Figure 3, has its support arm 20A squared at 21A to fit into the holder 21B mounted on part 21 of the frame, the arm 28A being long enough, as is arm 20, to allow for the full movement of the carriage to the right. In Figure 5, the telescopic means allows the gauge to be moved by and with the carriage and returned with it under the influence of spring 248. Adjustment of both types is provided for. The finger 65 on Fig, 4 yoke releases the dog 49. The line end indicator, or side margin gauge also functions as a page end indicator in that it will cease to function as a side margin indicator and thus warn the operator that the end of the paper has been reached. It is a combination side and end margin indicator. While I have illustrated and described ,my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made without departaaaavro ing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a .writing machine, in combination, a stationary frame, a movable carriage in the frame including, a platen, a paper guide passing under said platen and having a longitudinal channel therein, a side margin-gauge mounted on the frame and having an arm disposed between said guide and the platen and normally held out of the channel by paper passing about said platen and a signal actuated bysaid margin gauge arm as the latter drops into the channel as one side edge and the lower edge of the paper moves from thereunder as the writing progresses.

'2. In a writingmachine, in combination, a stationary frame, a movable carriage in the frame including a platen and a paper guide beneath the platen, said guide being shaped to provide a channel extending longitudinally beneath the platen, a gauge arm pivoted to said frame and arranged to be held out of the channel by paper passing about the platen, said arm riding off one side and lower marginal edges of the paper to indicate a side margin position and the lower end of the paper, and a signal actuated by the drop of the arm into the channel as it leaves the edge of the paper.

3. In a writing machine, in combination, a stationary frame, a movable carriage in the frame including, a platen, a paper guide under the platen having a longitudinal channel therein, a margin-gauge arm pivoted to the frame and having an end disposed between said guide and the platen and normally held out of the channel by paper passing about the platen, ,a signal actuated by the arm as the latter drops into the channel as the side edge of the paper moves from thereunder, and means for adjusting. said arm relatively to said frame to vary the margin indicating signal in accordance with the width of side edge margin desired.

4. In a writing machine, in combination, a stationary frame, a movable carriage in the frame including, a platen, a paper guide passing under said platen and having a longitudinal channel therein, a margin gauge arm mounted on the frame and having a portion disposed between said guide and the platen and normally held out of the channel by paper passing about said platen and a signal actuated by said margin gauge arm as the latter drops into the channel as either one side or the bottom edge of the paper moves from thereunder as the writing progresses.

5. In a writing machine, in combination, a stationary frame, a movable carriage in the frame including, a platen, a paper guide passing under said platen and having a longitudinal channel therein, a pivoted margin gauge arm mounted on the frame and having a portion disposed be; tween said guide and the platen and normally held out of the channel by paper'passing about said platen and a signal actuated by said margin gauge arm as the latter drops into the channel as the paper moves from thereunder as the writ.-

ing progresses, and means for adjusting said arm RAYMOND DOW.- 

